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ndtechie05 · Oct 20, 2004, 01:36 PM

im going to be getting a new powermac/display for college soon. i was wondering if i should wait until macworld to see if they release new configurations, or if i should go with it now?

-Brett

osxisfun · Oct 20, 2004, 01:43 PM

if you need it now. your best to buy it now.

If you can wait. I would bet donuts to dollars we will see at least a speed bump.

This is just a guess. As you will also have to factor in the whole

"announced in jan. ship in march" thing which could really screw up your studies if you need it.

Leonard · Oct 20, 2004, 01:54 PM

I wouldn't assume an update in January. Look at last year, there wasn't an update until June/July (a whole year). And even if there is an update, it will likely take you a month or two to get your hands on the new hardware.

OzarkMtn · Oct 20, 2004, 08:55 PM

I don't think there will be any "speed bumped" machines. There are enough problems getting the current configurations built and out the door. People got burned last time they assumed that by waiting they would get the 3.0 GHz machine.

Do yourself a favor and start enjoying your new machine as soon as possible.

takai · Oct 21, 2004, 04:33 AM

But if there isnt a speedbump there is likely to be a price drop. Thats how it has usually been in previous years over here in Aus.

Superchicken · Oct 21, 2004, 08:43 PM

With the new single 1.8 I doubt we'll see a 2.7 or anything any time soon. That said, it's awkward because now is not the normal time to do anything to the PowerMacs. That said they added superdrives to the PowerBooks shortly after updating em so... yah who knows these days.

chris v · Oct 21, 2004, 08:55 PM

IBM is just now starting to get up to speed with producing the 2.5. I sincerely doubt that there will be new Powemacs annnounced before next March at least.

bradleykavin · Oct 21, 2004, 09:15 PM

with the trouble they have been ahving with 90nm technology, i doubt any speed boost in the g5 within six months..maybe a dual optical drive though..but they wouldnt release that untill they had more to release it with..id think

UnixMac · Oct 21, 2004, 09:22 PM

PCI Express maybe, or some other minor architecture change, but 2.5Ghz is about as fast as a PowerPC can get for a little while. Production of the 2.5 has been difficult to say the least for IBM with the .90n process... it's not going to get any smaller anytime soon.. so speed is not going to be on the horizon.

look for dual core systems mid next year, shipping later in '05.

I say get your machine now.

Dog Like Nature · Oct 22, 2004, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by UnixMac:
PCI Express maybe, or some other minor architecture change

Well, that's pretty major if you ask me! No one did though....

badtz · Oct 22, 2004, 05:30 PM

personally, i'm waiting for ...

SATA II
PCIe
4 HD bays

UnixMac · Oct 22, 2004, 06:45 PM

Originally posted by Dog Like Nature:
Well, that's pretty major if you ask me! No one did though....

it is major, yet, but it wasn't an issue for me in so far as I keep my computers no longer than 4-5 years.. and in that time, I don't think PCIe is going to get that far ahead of AGP8X, since the problem isn't in the bandwidth of the AGP Bus, but with the output of GPU's...

Next machine will likely be a PCIe with SLI graphics... in '09.

SierraDragon · Oct 22, 2004, 09:20 PM

It almost always pays to wait until MacExpoSF if you can. Best is to go to the show with credit card in hand. Even when January upgrades are not significant price deals usually are.

GPU improvements are likely in January, but - unlike the old tech G4 laptops - a maxxed out G5 desktop rocks as configured right now, so there is no major reason to wait to buy a G5 tower.

Some folks here have expressed an affinity for G4s in comparison to G5s. I strongly disagree, even though laptop engineering constraints may yet force me to buy another G4 laptop if a G5 PB is not announced by January.

UnixMac · Oct 22, 2004, 10:19 PM

Originally posted by SierraDragon:
It almost always pays to wait until MacExpoSF if you can. Best is to go to the show with credit card in hand. Even when January upgrades are not significant price deals usually are.

GPU improvements are likely in January, but - unlike the old tech G4 laptops - a maxxed out G5 desktop rocks as configured right now, so there is no major reason to wait to buy a G5 tower.

Some folks here have expressed an affinity for G4s in comparison to G5s. I strongly disagree, even though laptop engineering constraints may yet force me to buy another G4 laptop if a G5 PB is not announced by January.

Surely a PB G5 is the next "big announcement" but you may have some compromises in speed and size of the laptop. I doubt whether the 1" thick thing will hold out, and the speed may be more like 1.6Ghz than 2.5... it's coming though... I'm sure of it.

eddiecatflap · Oct 23, 2004, 05:13 AM

pci-express is bound to emerge in the next revision

by c. feb 04 , there should be a few compatible cards on the market

if you want a 'future-proof' ( joke ) system or as near as dammnit , i say wait for the next rev.

art_director · Oct 23, 2004, 06:38 AM

here's another way of looking at it,,,

you're in college. the high end powermacs are more than what you will ever need in this school year. heck, same can be said for the low end.

siMac · Oct 23, 2004, 08:05 AM

Originally posted by art_director:
here's another way of looking at it,,,

you're in college. the high end powermacs are more than what you will ever need in this school year. heck, same can be said for the low end.

A much needed dose of reality there, thanks.

T-Shirt Slogan:
I've been working my ass off for the last eight years and all I got was this crappy iBook.

balls · Oct 23, 2004, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by siMac:T-Shirt Slogan:
I've been working my ass off for the last eight years and all I got was this crappy iBook. [/B]

I like that

Bookie · Oct 23, 2004, 10:19 AM

Heck, with educational pricing, you can get the 1.8 singleton for $1350. It'd be hard to feel cheated at that price even if they do crank out new iron in January.

CatOne · Oct 23, 2004, 02:20 PM

Originally posted by ndtechie05:
im going to be getting a new powermac/display for college soon. i was wondering if i should wait until macworld to see if they release new configurations, or if i should go with it now?

-Brett

Even if there were a faster machine, based on the way things have gone with the past couple releases, it wouldn't be possible to get it until April or May. You want to wait 6 months?

I just ordered a dual 2.5 with a 6800 Ultra about 3 weeks ago... Still says OOB November 12th.

/me watches calendar

collinong · Oct 23, 2004, 02:48 PM

personally, for the college environment, i think laptops work the best since you can take to class, library, friend's place, etc. and work wherever. unless you have some special need for a desktop, i'd say go with a powerbook.

SierraDragon · Oct 23, 2004, 03:51 PM

I concur: for college use laptops rule. A 15 or 17 inch AlBook at edu pricing is by far the way to go. Just be aware that constant vigilant backup and hardware security are essential. Also, use an ugly beat-up backpack and keep it stuck to you; fancy "steal me" laptop bags are lame.

Mafia · Oct 23, 2004, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by SierraDragon:
I concur: for college use laptops rule. A 15 or 17 inch AlBook at edu pricing is by far the way to go. Just be aware that constant vigilant backup and hardware security are essential. Also, use an ugly beat-up backpack and keep it stuck to you; fancy "steal me" laptop bags are lame.

agreed, but my powermac will def. go to college with me

UnixMac · Oct 23, 2004, 10:17 PM

Originally posted by Mafia:
agreed, but my powermac will def. go to college with me

I checked out your website... cool stuff. I really like the "graphic" design section.

Mafia · Oct 23, 2004, 11:50 PM

Originally posted by UnixMac:
I checked out your website... cool stuff. I really like the "graphic" design section.

heh dunno really what you mean by that but thx if its good, if its not... meh

UnixMac · Oct 23, 2004, 11:52 PM

Originally posted by Mafia:
heh dunno really what you mean by that but thx if its good, if its not... meh

Naw, it's all good man... I just meant I liked the chicks asses

in the Graphic Design section.

Mafia · Oct 23, 2004, 11:56 PM

Originally posted by UnixMac:
Naw, it's all good man... I just meant I liked the chicks asses in the Graphic Design section.

heh thx, ya those are wallpapers with girls i get some requests for heh. i'm outa town on the powerbook w/o all my files but when i get back i'm gonna make them downloadable. btw thx.

ndtechie05 · Oct 24, 2004, 09:31 PM

yes but i am a graphic designer/webmaster/video editor so i need something pretty fast, im going to be majoring in graphic design i currently have the 17" powerbook using photoshop on and stuff its nice but to use it constantly is a pain in the ass

Madrag · Oct 25, 2004, 09:55 AM

I think it's worth waiting as long as the price drops...

any idea of when it might happen?

(not everyone has student discount

Mafia · Oct 25, 2004, 09:58 AM

personally i don't think we'll see much with the powermacs until june but thats just my opinion.

Commodus · Oct 25, 2004, 10:30 AM

My guess is that it'll be February/March at the earliest for new PowerMacs. 3 GHz? I wouldn't count on it, but even 2.8 would be a nice figure. The main thing I anticipate is what others have suggested, that Apple will go to a PCIe architecture. PCI-X might only hang around in a single slot, if at all.

In fact, I'd like to make some (very early) predictions for the lineup...

Single 2.0 GHz
667 MHz processor bus
512 MB DDR 400 memory (up to 8 GB)
120 GB hard drive
16X Superdrive
128 MB GeForce 6200 graphics
$1499

Dual 2.0 GHz
Same as single, except for a 1 GHz processor bus
$1799

Dual 2.5 GHz
1.25 GHz processor bus
512 MB of DDR2 533 memory (up to 16 GB)
250 GB hard drive
16X Superdrive
128 MB GeForce 6200 Graphics
$2299

Dual 2.8 GHz
1.4 GHz processor bus
1 GB of DDR2 533 memory (up to 16 GB)
250 GB hard drive
16X Superdrive
256 MB Radeon X700 graphics
$2799

Obviously, this is a bit pie-in-the-sky right now (I could easily see the dual models' prices being higher, or the base hard drive being larger, etc.), but it seems feasible.

Akai · Oct 25, 2004, 12:53 PM

Dual 2.5 GHz
1.25 GHz processor bus
512 MB of DDR2 533 memory (up to 16 GB)
250 GB hard drive
16X Superdrive
128 MB GeForce 6200 Graphics
$2299

Dual 2.8 GHz
1.4 GHz processor bus
1 GB of DDR2 533 memory (up to 16 GB)
250 GB hard drive
16X Superdrive
256 MB Radeon X700 graphics
$2799

Do you really think your going to see DDR2? I mean last i knew it wasn't THAT much faster but it was quite a bit more expensive... I suppose its possible but to have 4 macs, with 2 different ram configurations in their line up just doesnt seem that likely to me.

Madrag · Oct 25, 2004, 12:59 PM

I wouldn't mind the current 2GHz configuration, as long as they drop the prices...
I've been saving for my G5 for one year and the way I see it, I'll have to wait untill Feb to buy it (when I think the prices will have dropped...)
(the lucky one here is is my trusted G4

)

SierraDragon · Oct 25, 2004, 02:37 PM

You are correct, any PB is a bit lame for heavy Adobe Suite work (like I do). However if you have a PB now to use I would tolerate it until we see G5 tower configurations and prices at Mac Expo SF January 10 then buy a DP G5 tower. The CPU changes are unlikely to matter much, but new GPUs (for Tiger) and faster hard drives will have huge impact on Adobe apps. Needless to say, be sure to buy a dual hard drive box so you can use a separate physical drive for the Adobe scratch disk.

Commodus · Oct 25, 2004, 03:40 PM

Originally posted by Akai:
Do you really think your going to see DDR2? I mean last i knew it wasn't THAT much faster but it was quite a bit more expensive... I suppose its possible but to have 4 macs, with 2 different ram configurations in their line up just doesnt seem that likely to me.

I think so. Remember, the G5 is very dependent on keeping bandwidth open - PCI Express and the processor bus might be wasted if they're both waiting on the RAM.

Besides, Apple probably wants to keep up with the Joneses (read: Intel) in terms of specs, even if there's little gain to be had from doing it right away.

UnixMac · Oct 25, 2004, 03:43 PM

Does anyone know what actually the biggest bottle neck in the G5? Is it the RAM? or the SATA? Cause I can tell you that there is certainly no benefit from faster PCI or AGP as far as I can tell.

SierraDragon · Oct 25, 2004, 06:06 PM

It depends very much on what you are using it for. Adobe apps, for instance, hard drive throughput is very relevant. And my [relatively uninformed] understanding is that Tiger will make heavy use of the GPU with Photoshop-type applications.